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Benefits & household income

Canadian benefits for kinship caregivers in PEI.

When a child moves into your home, several Canadian and PEI benefits can change at once. This guide shows which ones to check and what triggers each program.

Grandparents and grandchildren together at home

Part of our Financial Help resource series. See the main Financial Help guide for PEI programs, household costs and related caregiver resources. Following a guided route? Return to the Money & practical-needs route.

Information reviewed September 2026. Benefit amounts, tax thresholds and program rules can change, so use the linked official source for current eligibility and amounts.

Start with the situation, not the program name. Different benefits are triggered by different facts: who the child lives with, who is primarily responsible, whether Child Protection is involved, disability, the parent's CPP status, household income and the child's age.

The first benefit to check is usually the Canada Child Benefit.

If a child under 18 starts living with you and you become primarily responsible for the child's care, CRA says you should apply for the Canada Child Benefit rather than assuming another person's payment will automatically transfer.

CRA also specifically says a caregiver may receive CCB for a child living with them under a government kinship or close relationship program as long as Children's Special Allowances are not payable for that child.

July 2026 to June 2027

Canada Child Benefit

The current maximum is $8,157 per year for an eligible child under 6 and $6,883 per year for an eligible child age 6 to 17. Payments decrease as adjusted family net income rises.

What to do when a child moves in
PEI

Prince Edward Island Child Benefit

CRA administers the PEI Child Benefit and combines it with the CCB payment. For July 2026 to June 2027, the current amount is $34.16 per child per month below $45,000 adjusted family net income, or $24.16 per month from $45,000 to $80,000.

Benefits change depending on the child's circumstances.

Child has a disability

DTC approval can open access to the Child Disability Benefit, disability amount transfers and an RDSP. The Canada Caregiver Credit may also apply in some families.

See disability-related benefits

Parent is deceased or receives CPP disability

The child may qualify for a CPP children's benefit if the parent meets CPP contribution rules.

See CPP children's benefits

Child Protection is involved

GACP and Children's Special Allowances can affect which federal child benefit applies. Ask the worker which payment is being made for the child.

Understand PEI GACP

The Canadian Dental Care Plan may reduce dental costs.

The current federal plan is open for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year. Eligibility requires no access to private dental insurance, filed Canadian tax returns, adjusted family net income under $90,000 and Canadian tax residency. Government social-program dental coverage does not automatically disqualify a person because coverage can be coordinated.

Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan eligibility

Filing taxes every year matters even when income is low.

CCB, the PEI Child Benefit, the Child Disability Benefit, the Canada Caregiver Credit, RDSP grant and bond calculations, and several other programs depend on tax information. A missed tax return can interrupt or delay benefits.

Use the federal calculator before assuming you earn too much.

CRA's Child and Family Benefits Calculator estimates CCB and related provincial benefits using the information you enter. The calculation is only an estimate, but it is useful when a child has newly moved into the household.

CRA Child and Family Benefits Calculator

Keep these benefit systems separate in your records.

  • CCB and PEI Child Benefit: based on federal child-benefit rules and household income.
  • GACP: a PEI Child Protection-linked program with its own eligibility rules.
  • Child support: depends on a support agreement or order and is separate from CCB.
  • Disability benefits and credits: often require DTC approval or proof of an impairment.
  • CPP children's benefits: depend on a parent's CPP disability or death and contribution history.
Printable

PEI Kinship Caregiver Benefits Checklist

Use this two-page checklist when a child moves in or the caregiving arrangement changes.

Download benefits checklist
Related guide

Taxes for kinship caregivers

See which tax credits, deductions and disability-related claims may need a closer look.

Open tax guide

Official Canadian and PEI starting points